Odell Serves Up an Innovative Take on the Milkshake IPA

Odell Brewing Co. has released their newest limited-edition release and it’s sure to become a sought-after beer in short order. Cloud Catcher is an India Pale Ale. However, it’s not just any India Pale Ale: it’s a substyle called a Milkshake IPA.

Just what in the holy heck, I can hear you saying, is a Milkshake IPA? I’m so glad you asked. A Milkshake IPA is a variant of a New England IPA that’s developing a curious and loyal following.

A New England IPA is characterized by aromas of juicy hops, a hazy appearance, and more subdued bitterness. A Milkshake IPA takes all of that and puts an intriguing spin on it: milk sugars (a.k.a. lactose) are added. It’s the lactose that imbues Odell Brewing Co.’s Cloud Catcher with a velvety, creamy mouthfeel. Milk sugars also give this IPA a full body.

While Odell didn’t invent the Milkshake IPA, they’ve certainly mastered it and developed their own approach to this yet-to-be-officially recognized beer style. Whereas many brewers (the first is believed to be Omnipollo) producing beers of this style use fruit purees, vanilla and additives to achieve the desired effect, Odell eschew such ingredients and instead use double dry-hopped Azzaca, Cashmere and Citra hops. The complexity of the hops themselves and Odell’s know-how produce the Milkshake IPA’s unique attributes.

“Cloud Catcher’s velvety mouthfeel is what sets this beer apart. It’s like pillowy beer clouds in your mouth,” says Alex Kayne, director of marketing at Odell. “So of course we latched onto that idea and had a lot of fun creating this fabled character who risks it all to bring the beer to life.”

Cloud Catcher is a 6.8% ABV Milkshake IPA with 47 IBU available for a limited time in 6-packs of 12-oz. cans and on draught.